tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705078887057341738.post3930662912065175770..comments2024-03-19T07:30:55.288-04:00Comments on Curmudgeon: Union Blues and My GreenCurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323026187622872114noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705078887057341738.post-89373027740828405992008-08-21T10:08:00.000-04:002008-08-21T10:08:00.000-04:00Sorry, Penny. The unions in schools around here d...Sorry, Penny. The unions in schools around here don't have any compensation for negotiators, representatives or local president.<BR/>Maybe in your state, but not here.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323026187622872114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705078887057341738.post-20171833800163772872008-08-20T08:58:00.000-04:002008-08-20T08:58:00.000-04:00>>The unpaid volunteers who form the negotia...>>The unpaid volunteers who form the negotiating committee cost, well, nothing. If your negotiating committee runs into difficulties - arbitration is never on the table because NEA doesn't want to pay their share of the cost.<<<BR/><BR/>You need to do some research on locals other than your own. Negotiating team members are generally paid about $600 apiece, in the form of having their local, state, an national dues paid by the local. In other towards, the local collects, say, $600 per member. Out of that, about $350 goes to the state, about $200 to the national, and only about $50 stays with the local. So for a local to pay someone's $600 dues, there is most DEFINITELY a cost!<BR/><BR/><BR/>Maybe not arbitration, but mediation and fact-finding are often done. That being said, I agree that much more of the dues $ should be staying with locals, who do the lion's share of the work for their members and receive diddely-squat in return. I do think, however, that non-members should have to pay something towards the cost of negotiations and grievances (grievance chairs' dues are also often paid by the local.) In our state, this is not automatic; it has to be negotiated.<BR/><BR/>>>There are no stipends for local head of union, etc. >><BR/><BR/>Once again, you are wrong. At least 1/2 of their dues money is paid by the local in MANY cases.<BR/><BR/>>>If administration gets nastier and tries to fire you, the union will offer you help - a paralegal who doesn't return phone calls.<<<BR/><BR/>In dismissal cases, my experience has been that you DO get your money's worth. However, you have to wait to be fired first (suspension's not gonna do it).<BR/><BR/>>>So where do those thousands of dollars go? Six-figure salaries at the union - check. Clerical assistants who make more than the highest-paid teacher in the state - check.<<<BR/><BR/>You'll get no argument from me there!Penny Cullitonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844011750000009390noreply@blogger.com